Parking facilities off the street or highway right of way shall
be provided to serve all buildings erected, moved, altered, or enlarged
and all areas otherwise developed after the adoption of these Regulations.
Such facilities shall be sufficient to accommodate the motor and other
vehicles of all occupants, employees, customers and other persons
normally visiting such building or lot at any one time.
Required parking facilities shall be located on the same lot
as the building or other use which they serve, except that upon the
approval of the Zoning Commission, required parking facilities may
be located not more than 200 feet from such building or use, measured
in a straight line to the nearest space for vehicular parking. Properties
within the Theater District are exempt from this requirement.
Off-street parking requirements in the Theater District will
be the same as for other districts except that a minimum of 50% of
the required off-street spaces for uses requiring five or more spaces
shall be located at an off-site location outside of the Theater District
or within the MA/TH District. The location of the off-site parking
spaces must be approved by the Zoning Commission who shall take into
account the following factors: a) whether the proposed parking is
permitted under the Zoning Regulations; b) the distance and relationship
of the proposed parking to the Theater District; c) means of transportation
from the proposed parking area to the theater and; d) compatibility
of the parking area with neighboring land uses. These remote parking
spaces must be guaranteed by the property owner through a deed restriction
or subject to a long-term lease (minimum 25 years) and they must not
be used for or counted in any way for any other use. The Zoning Commission
may also, within the Theater District, consider proposals for shared
parking facilities serving multiple uses and/or buildings on the same
property, providing that adequate documentation has been provided
to the satisfaction of the Zoning Commission to describe the levels
and patterns of the peak parking demands for each use involved.
Plans for any new building or any expansion of an existing building,
when submitted for a building permit, shall show specifically the
location and use of such building, all required parking spaces, and,
in the case of nonresidential use, the loading space required to comply
with the regulations and the means of access to such space from the
public street or highways. Except for residences, no building permit
shall be issued until such plan for parking and loading space and
access to it and required improvements shall be submitted to the Office
of Planning and Zoning for approval of traffic access, traffic circulation,
and general layout of the parking facility and required improvements
are planned with regard to safety to traffic on the public street
and safety and adequacy of access for cars and pedestrians using the
parking facility. To assure the completion of the required parking
facilities, a zoning compliance report that said work is in conformance
with these Regulations per the requirements of Section 3.1 shall not
be issued by the Planning and Zoning Administrator until the applicant
files a performance bond with said Administrator in favor of the Town
of Stratford in an amount determined by the Administrator to cover
the cost of the required work. All work, the performance of which
is secured by said bond, shall be completed within two years from
the date of the bond or six months from the issuance by the Building
Official of a certificate of occupancy, whichever shall first occur.
[Effective 7-23-1983]
Structures and land uses in existence, or for which building
permits have been approved at the time of the adoption of these Regulations,
shall not be subject to the parking or loading space requirement of
these Regulations, provided that any parking and loading facilities
then existing to serve such structures or uses shall not in the future
be reduced, except where they exceed such requirements, in which case
they shall not be reduced below such requirements. Required parking
and loading facilities shall, however, be provided as a condition
for the issuance of any building permit for any enlargement of such
structures or uses in the future. In cases of exceptional difficulty
or unusual hardship to such properties arising out of this requirement,
appeal may be made to the board of appeals which shall require such
degree of compliance as it may deem reasonable for that part of the
structure or use that is legally nonconforming, but shall not waive
any part of the requirement for that part of the structure or use
that constitutes an enlargement or expansion, and shall not permit
reduction or elimination of whatever quantity of parking may already
be in existence unless it is in excess of requirements. Required off-street
parking facilities which, after development, are later dedicated to
and accepted by the town, shall be deemed to continue to serve the
uses or structures for which they were originally provided.
Unless otherwise specifically approved by the Zoning Commission,
required parking facilities shall contain not less than the minimum
areas set forth below, exclusive of driveways necessary for access.
Except in the case of one- and two-family dwellings, rooftop or indoor
parking, excluding ramps, may be included in the required area. For
offices, home occupations, and bed-and-breakfast establishments in
RS Districts, the following additional standards shall apply: 1) no
parking spaces shall be provided in the front yard; and 2) provision
shall be made for a turn-around on site.
12.5.1
For one- and two-family residences, one space for each dwelling
unit.
12.5.1.1
For residential developments of three to seven dwellings, 1.5
spaces for each dwelling unit which is an efficiency and/or one-bedroom
unit and 2.0 spaces for each dwelling unit containing two or more
bedrooms.
[Effective 7-15-2020]
12.5.2
For residence apartments, 2.0 spaces for each dwelling unit
containing two bedrooms or more; 1.5 spaces for each unit containing
an efficiency or one-bedroom unit, plus guest parking at 10% of the
total spaces required; provided that the Commission may reduce these
requirements to 2.0 spaces for each dwelling unit containing three
bedrooms or more; 1.5 spaces for each dwelling unit containing one
or two bedrooms; and one space for an efficiency unit, plus additional
guest parking at 10% of the total number of spaces required, if the
Commission finds through competent oral or written testimony presented
at the public hearing on any such application that a reduction in
parking is indicated due to the nature, location and anticipated population
of any such proposed residence apartment development.
12.5.3
For offices in RS Districts and for permitted home occupations
a minimum of 2 spaces are required.
[Amended 10-23-2019]
12.5.4
For financial institutions, nonmedical office buildings, retail
stores, personal service shops, and similar business buildings, one
space for each 250 square feet of gross floor area. [Effective 4-26-2000]
12.5.4.1
For medical office use, one space for each 165 square feet of
gross floor area. [Effective 4-26-2000]
12.5.5
For main auditorium or churches, for theaters, assembly halls,
or stadiums, one space for every four seats or for each 200 square
feet, whichever is the greater.
12.5.6
For places of public assembly or public recreation not otherwise
listed, one space for each 150 square feet of floor area.
12.5.7
For restaurants, one space for each 75 square feet of total
floor space and for clubs, taverns or bars, one space for each 50
square feet of total floor space, including any outdoor service area.
[Effective 2-19-1997 with revisions effective 4-26-2000]
[Amended 10-23-2019]
12.5.7.1
For take-out establishments, one space for each 250 square feet
of gross floor area including any outdoor service area. [Effective
4-26-2000]
12.5.8
For hotels, lodging or boarding houses, one space for each guest room or suite. In the case of restaurants or other public rooms in a hotel which are open to nonresidents thereof, additional parking facilities shall be provided as prescribed in Subsections 12.5.6 and 12.5.7.
12.5.8.1
For bed-and-breakfast establishments, two spaces for the dwelling
plus one space for each guest room.
12.5.9
For hospitals, clinics, sanitariums or convalescent homes, one
space for each three patient beds, excluding bassinets.
12.5.9.1
For assisted living residential facilities parking shall be
provided at a minimum of one space for every two dwelling units at
the facility plus one space for each employee at peak shift but in
no event less than 25 employee parking spaces.
12.5.10
For undertakers' establishments, one space for each 100 square
feet of floor area open to the public.
12.5.11
For motels and tourist courts, one space for each guest room
plus one space for each 600 square feet of additional floor space.
12.5.12
For industrial and manufacturing establishments and similar
buildings, one space for each 500 square feet of gross floor area.
[Effective 4-26-2000]
[Amended 10-23-2019]
12.5.13
For marinas and yacht clubs, one space for each boat berth and/or
mooring plus one boat trailer space 10 feet by 40 feet in size per
20 boat berths. [Effective 1-27-1987]
12.5.14
For affordable housing developments, two spaces for each unit
plus additional guest parking spaces at 10% of the total number of
spaces required.
12.5.15
For planned economic developments. Unless reduced by the Zoning
Commission as set forth hereinafter, parking spaces shall be provided
for each use at the rate of 80% of the applicable requirements in
Section 12.5 and shall comply with the provisions of Sections 12.1,
12.3, 12.6, 12.7, 12.8, 12.9, and 12.10 of these Regulations. The
parking requirements set forth above may be reduced by the Zoning
Commission where the applicant provides documentation acceptable to
the Commission demonstrating that peak use of certain parking facilities
by neighboring developments within the PED will not occur at the same
time or that other factors will permit multiple use of parking facilities,
provided that the ratio of parking spaces to aggregate floor area
shall not fall below 2.50 spaces per 1,000 square feet at any stage
of development of the entire tract.
12.5.16
Shared Use of Parking Facilities. When two or more different uses
are located on a single lot, the total number of parking and/or loading
spaces to be provided shall be the sum of the requirements for each
individual use on the lot. The Commission may, subject to Special
Case Approval, approve the shared use of parking and/or loading spaces
by two or more establishments on the same or on contiguous lots containing
not less than two hundred (200) spaces, where the lot or lots contain
two (2) or more distinct uses, one of which is either retail or office,
and also includes but is not limited to, retail, office, churches
and other places of worship, places of public assembly, theaters,
not for profit clubs, bowling centers, cafes, taverns, restaurants,
hotels, or residential development, or other similar uses; provided
that the Commission finds that the number of spaces to be provided
will meet the intent of these regulations by reason of variation of
the probable time of maximum use of patrons or employees of such establishments
and that additional parking on the street will not occur. In such
cases, the Commission may authorize a reduction in parking of up to
thirty (30%) percent of the total required.
12.5.17
For automotive services one space per 200 square feet or 3 spaces
per bay/lift.
12.5.18
For health clubs and gyms one space for every 250 square feet.
12.5.19
For convenience markets, one space per 200 square feet.
12.5.20
For food stores/super market, one space per 200 square feet.
12.6.1
A parking space for one motor vehicle shall have minimum dimensions
of nine feet in width and 20 feet in length exclusive of driveways,
aisles and maneuvering space appurtenant thereto, and shall have direct
access to a street.
12.6.2
In parking lots that are over 50 spaces in size, 35% of the
spaces can be made to service compact motor vehicles. The size of
these compact spaces shall be eight feet in width by 16 feet in length.
12.6.3
Compact parking stalls shall be grouped in contiguous, uniform
stalls and shall have signs placed in appropriate locations indicating
parking for compact vehicles only.
12.6.4
All or any part of the parking spaces provided in addition to
those required by these Regulations may be for compact vehicles.
12.7.1
No parking in connection with any nonresidential use shall be
so located that motor vehicles may enter or leave the parking area
across a sidewalk except at a point or points approved as part of
a plan as required by Section 12.3.
12.7.2
In any residence district, no required off-street parking facility
shall be developed within the required front yard, or shall be developed
within five feet of a side or rear lot line.
12.7.3
Any parking required for business uses in a business district
shall not be provided in a residence district except as provided in
Section 34. Any parking required for industrial uses in an industrial
district shall not be provided in a residence district.
12.8.1
For a public library, museum, art gallery, or similar quasi-public
institution, or governmental building, community center, hospital
or sanitarium, nursing or convalescent home, institution for children
or the aged, or school with floor area of 5,000 to 10,000 square feet,
one berth; for each additional 25,000 square feet or major fraction
thereof, one additional berth.
12.8.2
For buildings with professional, governmental, or business offices,
or laboratory, establishments with floor area of 10,000 to 25,000
square feet, one berth; for each additional 25,000 square feet, or
fraction thereof up to 100,000 square feet, one additional berth;
for each additional 50,000 square feet or major fraction thereof,
one additional berth.
12.8.3
For buildings with offices and retail sales and service establishments,
one berth for 5,000 to 10,000 square feet of floor area, and one additional
berth for each additional 15,000 square feet of floor area or major
fraction thereof so used.
12.8.4
For undertakers establishments, one berth. Such berths shall
be at least 10 feet wide, 20 feet long, and 7 1/2 feet high.
12.8.5
For hotels, one berth for each 20,000 square feet of floor area.
12.8.6
For manufacturing, wholesale and storage uses, and for dry-cleaning
and rug-cleaning establishments and laundries, one berth for 5,000
to 10,000 square feet of floor area, in such use, and one additional
berth for each additional 20,000 square feet of floor area or major
fraction thereof so used.
12.8.7
For restaurants and other places serving food and beverages,
one berth for the first 2,500 to 5,000 square feet of floor area,
and one additional berth for each additional 7,500 square feet of
floor area or major fraction thereof so used.
12.8.8
Reasonable and appropriate off-street loading requirements for
structures and land uses which do not fall within the categories listed
above shall be determined, in each case, by the Zoning Commission
which shall consider all factors entering into the loading and unloading
needs of such use.
Each required loading berth shall be at least 12 feet wide,
33 feet long, and 14 feet high. Unobstructed access, at least 10 feet
wide, to and from a street shall be provided. Such access may be combined
with access to a parking lot. All permitted or required loading berths
shall be on the same lot as the use to which they are accessory.
Required minimum parking and truck-loading facilities shall
be provided with minimum surfacing of bituminous concrete. All parking
spaces where adjacent to a street shall have a concrete safety curb
not less than eight inches high, except at point of access. If the
area for parking is 40,000 square feet or more the drainage of said
area shall be subject to the approval of the engineering department
of the Town of Stratford.
Off-street parking as permitted in RS District by Section 4.1.9
shall be so arranged that no vehicles can be parked within 50 feet
of any residence structure not on the lot and the area used for parking
shall be separated from adjacent RS Districts by a fence not less
than four feet high and obscuring at least 50% of the vision through
any square foot of fence area except that for 20 feet from any street
line the fence may be reduced to three feet in height. Lighting for
any parking area shall be so arranged or shaded that the source of
light is not visible from any residence window off the lot and within
75 feet of the light source. Where in the opinion of the Zoning Commission
the above requirements are not necessary to protect adjacent RS uses
from undue noise or light the Zoning Commission may approve the use
with lesser requirements as a special case under Section 20.2.
In order to enhance the appearance of a property and to protect
property values through the preservation of existing vegetation and
the establishment of new landscaping and to shade parking areas from
heat and glare while providing privacy from noise and visual intrusion,
all new parking lots containing 15 or more spaces, all parking lots
increasing in size by 15 or more parking spaces and all parking lots
serving new or modified uses that require 15 or more spaces shall
be landscaped as follows:
12.12.1
Interior parking area.
A)
Tall shade trees, at least three inches in caliper, shall be
planted and/or maintained within all surface parking lots and shall
be evenly distributed at the rate of one tree for every 10 parking
spaces. Shade trees shall mean any deciduous tree whose mature height
of its species can be expected to exceed 35 feet and that has an expected
crown spread of 30 feet or more.
B)
The positioning of islands shall be designed to aid in the circulation
and traffic safety within the parking lot which may include the periodic
use of continuous landscape dividers to discourage unintended site
circulation patterns.
12.12.2
Front landscaping area.
A)
Tall shade or flowering deciduous trees, at least three inches
in caliper, shall be planted and/or maintained within the front landscaped
area at the rate of one tree for every 50 feet of property frontage.
B)
All parking areas shall be screened from the street through
the use of hedges, approximately four feet in height, or landscaped
berms. If berms are used, the height of the hedge may be reduced in
accordance with the height of the berm above the parking lot edge.
12.12.3
Buffer areas. All parking and access areas shall maintain a minimum
twelve-foot setback buffer to any Residence District. Evergreen trees,
at least six feet in height, shall be planted and/or maintained within
the buffer area at the rate of one tree for every 10 feet.
12.12.4
Open space areas. All open space areas shall be mulched or grassed.
Low shrubs or flowers shall be planted so as to cover a minimum of
25% of the open space area with the intent on covering a minimum of
50% of the area at maturity. Low shrubs or flowers shall be planted
at entry areas and other focal points to provide color and interest.
12.12.5
Tree requirements for existing parking lots. For every 1,000 square
feet of refitted commercial or industrial space which requires a building
permit, the applicant or owner shall plant one shade tree, at least
three inches in caliper, in the parking lot interior area until the
minimum requirement is met. Thereafter, trees in the front landscaped
area and buffer areas shall be planted until those minimum requirements
are met. If it is determined that there is no area suitable for the
new trees within the parking lot interior area without removing required
parking spaces, then the required trees may be planted along the perimeter
of the lot.
12.12.6
Protection of trees. All trees shall be planted in curbed porous
islands at least five feet in diameter. All trees shall be further
protected from damage with guide lines and shall be maintained in
a healthy growing condition in perpetuity.
12.12.7
Environmentally contaminated properties. On properties or specific
areas of properties which are proven to be environmentally contaminated,
shallow-rooted flowering trees may be substituted for tall shade trees
upon the approval of the zoning office. In cases where shallow rooted
flowering trees cannot be planted, even with the use of raised planting
beds, then shrubs, 2 1/2 to three feet in height may be planted
at the rate of three shrubs for every 10 parking spaces upon the approval
of the zoning office.
[1]
Editor's Note: Effective 5-17-1995.
